Wait, there's a film adaptation of Lois Lowry's The Giver in the works? And Jeff Bridges is in it? I'm ashamed that I didn't know about this until now. It was one of my favorite books as a kid and is possibly the best young adult novel I have ever read.
Deadline has learned that Meryl Streep is set to join THE GIVER with Phillip Noyce (SALT, CATCH A FIRE) helming the adaptation. Streep will play the head elder of the seemingly utopian society that has eliminated pain and suffering by adopting a plan called "Sameness" that also removes emotional depth from the citizen's lives. Jeff Bridges will star as the "Receiver of Memories" (the keeper of ancient memories who becomes "The Giver") and Brenton Thwaites will play the new Receiver named Jonas.
Meanwhile The Wrap is reporting that Alexander Skarsgard and Cameron Monaghan are also attached to the project, Skarsgard as Jonas' father and Monaghan as the character's best friend.
Here's a description of the book from Amazon:
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
The Giver won the Newbery Medal in 1994 and the novel is a part of many middle school reading lists, even though it also appears on numerous challenged book lists. Like I said before, The Giver was a big part of my childhood and I'm very happy to see that a film version is finally happening. I just hope that the movie does the book justice, because it really is a modern day classic that deserves an excellent adaptation.
Production on THE GIVER is set to begin in about eight weeks and it will be filmed in South Africa.